For the rest of the day, the entire next day, and the days that followed, Lantis remained by Hikaru's side. With Fuu and Umi's help, he cared for and accompanied her in every possible way. Though Hikaru had opened her eyes, the devastation had drained them of light, numbing her emotions and senses. Otherwise, she kept her eyes closed, shutting out the world even when not asleep. In her consciousness, she struggled to grasp the reality unfolding before her. Nightmares clung to her mind, barring her from embracing the present. She couldn't respond to anyone around her. Yet, Lantis stayed.

Continuously, he gave support. Patiently, he helped to feed her and gently helped her change. He washed her face, combed, and braided her hair. Dearly, he watched her day and night and comforted her restlessness. During the nights, he listened to all her delirious cries; he wiped her tears and embraced her. During the days, he carried her outside. Under the warm sun and blue sky, he sat with her under the tree in the garden. Despite the quietness, he let her feel the breath of life around her, how lively and welcoming it was. He reminded her of their memories.

He told her stories about people around them, their family now, their two sons and a daughter. They now had a new home to build and the freedom to be themselves in an era of peace and unity. With him, she witnessed the sun from dawn to dusk and how the world had changed in colors and beauty. People also had changes in emotions, but love for her was thriving now. In her fragility, Lantis accepted her existence entirely. Those evoked a familiar feeling within her.

She took days to comprehend it all. Then, one night, the pain she had tried to suppress within her erupted. A deep ache surged in her chest, tightening her throat. Finally, she thought, if only this were punishment instead of warmth! She was ready to endure any suffering—but not this affection.

Yet, as she looked at Lantis beside her, deep in his slumber from exhaustion, she still reached out. As the moonlight pierced through the curtains, her blurry view gradually became clearer. She saw the figure of a man she had kept in the deepest recesses of her heart all this time. Lines of time were etched upon his face now, and his unkempt hair had already turned grey. The mustache he had let grow accentuated his maturity. Despite the changes, his serenity calmed her anxiety, and his closeness eased her sense of estrangement.

Her fingers hovered just an inch from him, but she hesitated. Without a word, her face revealed clearly of her turn of emotion, speaking volumes of the valid reasons she believed for keeping the distance. "All because of me... I'm to blame... I've sinned greatly... I failed to protect your son... That child left me... I abandoned him, and I let him die–"

However, she remembered the tale Lantis told her during this time. It was about him and their long-lost son. Slowly, a bit of happiness started to fill her heart and healed her disappointment.

It was almost like a legend. They were unknown to each other until fate united them through a tragedy. It was long since he lost his beloved woman due to a war. Out of respect for the promise he made to her, as a military general, he dedicated his life to protecting their land. Unbeknownst to him, she had given birth to his son in the land of the enemy. This young man grew into a brave warrior, and to save his mother, he joined the military and went to war in the neighboring land where his father served as the general.

After a series of gruesome events, eventually, they met on the battlefield. They were eager to kill each other as they perceived one another as formidable opponents. However, they recognized each other through the reminiscence of a woman who loved them dearly. Their powers were the mark of love that should be used to protect those they cherished. Her love protected them from harming each other and prevented them from plunging into unbearable regret. After the war ended and peace was attained, they reunited and had a journey together to find her. At last, their long wait had come to an end. Their family was complete when now she was home.

With gratefulness, Lantis whispered to her, "What a joyous moment I realized I had such a great son. Seeing him feels like looking into a mirror. I see my younger self in him. Both of us have been lost for so long, but now, we are together, back home, safe and sound. Do you know? The adversity during his lonely childhood changed him to be a wise man. Now, we walk life together as a comrade to build the newly founded nation. You should be proud and see him…"

But, in this land… "They want me to die… It is the price I must pay in exchange of their sufferings."

Again, his words liberated her, unchaining her from the misery.

"Don't you know how grateful we all are to you? Everyone is waiting for you to return. It's true that suffering once befell to this world, and yes, some have died due to tragedies. But many survived without blaming you. They are living well here. Let me show you our life today. Open your eyes and you will be able to see…

"See? They are so happy and hope for you to be well. Umi and Fuu have always been here. They care for you every day. Ferio, Ascot, their son and daughter… LaFarga and Caldina… They visit you several times. Do you remember Dyna? That girl has grown up and she cherishes you so much. Eagle Vision also always come to tell many things to you. Lately, he brought Shinre, Senna, Serena… also Kotori and Ryuuki to go outing. Tomorrow, they will come to tell their stories.

"Can you hear them? They all call you 'mother.' Now, they're playing and hanging out outside. This summer is so wonderful. Listen—they laugh so happily. You know, they will all grow up to adulthood and start their own lives. Imagine, years from now, we'll be living with our grandsons and granddaughters. Let's make new wishes… for our old ones have already been fulfilled."

But the hardest thing to bear came to dominate. "I've betrayed you..." Her body limped to the bed. Powerless, she gazed at the ceiling. She wept silently. "Your enemy is not my enemy…"

"Hikaru…" A man called her name tenderly.

She didn't realize that Lantis was already awake. His calling of her name opened her eyes, like the ring of a bell that cleared her clouded mind and awakened her body completely. For the first time, she met Lantis's gaze. But now, she felt calm enough to tell him what needed to be said despite the difficulty. "Lantis… my heart doesn't go only to you. My love for him is real, in the light of the gratitude I feel throughout my life to him…"

Lantis warmly pulled her into his embrace and allowed her to rest. He said nothing, but in his arms, Hikaru felt the security through the rhythm of his heartbeats and breath. The years of separation seemed to vanish, like a long dream or an illusion. The struggles and pain they had endured transformed into stories, as though they were resuming the day from the moment it ended 20 years ago.

For Lantis, he now understood and chose to go beyond what people usually think as right or wrong. When your heart is as vast as the ocean, everyone has a palace to live there. When your love is limitless, everyone gets a whole affection without fractions. Why should I envy the blessing of others when I already have mine?

After minutes of contemplation, he gave his answer. "He is not my enemy, too." He released her and met her gaze once again. "Honestly, love is difficult when I cannot see you. I keep thinking, what is love the day I no longer have you? But you are not anyone's possession, including me. Despite that, with your freedom, you choose to come back to me. I'm so grateful you're here." His tears broke free in happiness and relief for being able to say this. "I am so grateful…"

Hikaru's expression was now less tense, softened by a serene smile. The person she loved was truly in front of her. Her hands sought his presence, and she gently wiped away the tears from his face with her fingers. Lantis did the same for her, and this gesture made her smile even wider. Now, she completely believed in him and all he said.

"People say, the sad past is now behind us. And we have our future from now on. Just forget and start anew. However, that very past shapes the finest version of ourselves now, and the life that has led us to today tells the story of who we are. So, I won't try to forget anything. When I finally uncover the wisdom within my struggles, the past itself gently heals the wounds I've suffered. I respect my past. I respect ours."

His words of forgiveness shone her way. All darkness and shadow ceased under the sun. No walls and barriers remained between them. They expressed everything they had been holding back, the words they had kept hidden in their hearts—that they longed to be with each other.

"Twenty years is such a long time… So long for us…"

"Yes, it is too long… to live with this feeling…"

Lantis helped her resolve with a kiss on her forehead and stroked her hair. She responded to him with a longer one to his lips. No words needed to state that she was his again.

Trembling from the overwhelming surge of emotions, they held each other longer, becoming one inseparable whole. They found their hearts, like the peaceful night finding the day and the vibrant day finding the night. When time was no longer their nemesis and distance was no longer their adversary, nothing was more desired than remaining one. Love led to the rediscovery that they could still build many things together, having shared dreams again. There was no need for idealized perfection or the absence of sorrow. They chose to forgive, to heal, to honor, to grow... In their journey, every scar beautifully became part of the whole, like a golden repair of a broken heart.

Hikaru fell asleep, now in his arms. With the serene face of a baby, she slept soundly. The curtain of night lifted with the rise of the sun. A strand of light entered the room, and with each passing minute, a new world unfolded. He closed his eyes in peace. He prayed to God with all the praises.